Latest news with #SportsmanOfTheYear
Malay Mail
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Karate gold medallist Muhammad Arif eyes 2026 Asian Games comeback after ACL surgery
GEORGE TOWN, July 5— National karate exponent Muhammad Arif Afifuddin Ab Malik is determined to make a comeback from a recent surgery for his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, to defend his gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. The gold medallist in the men's 84 kilogramme kumite (sparring) event at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games is currently undergoing rehabilitation and is confident that he can make a stronger recovery in the next six months before his knee is fully healed in 10 months, according to the head coach. 'I suffered an ACL injury at the K1 Series A Championship in Salzburg, Austria after being taken down in the first round earlier this year and I have just undergone surgery for it. 'I am now focusing on physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Hopefully, I will come back stronger by next year,' he told Bernama at the Penang State Sports Awards 2023/2024 ceremony at the Amari Food Gallery near here today. At the ceremony, the 26-year-old athlete was crowned Penang 2023/2024 Sportsman of the Year and received a trophy and cash prize of RM4,000 presented by state executive councillor for Youth, Sports and Health, Daniel Gooi Zi Sen. Commenting on the recognition, Muhammad Arif described the award as a morale booster to continue striving for greater and more prestigious success on the international stage. 'I never thought I would be selected as the Sportsman of the Year because I was nominated before but didn't win. This year, I got it. I am grateful and very happy,' he said. The 1.83-metre tall exponent also expressed his intention to continue his Masters studies in business or sports science in the near future. For the record, Muhammad Arif created history when he won the Hangzhou Asian Games gold medal after defeating 2021 World Championship bronze medallist Daniyar Yuldashev from Kazakhstan 10-4 in the final. Gold medal winner in chess at the 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA Sarawak), Chua Jia Tien, was crowned Penang Sportswoman of the Year 2023/2024 and her father collected the award on her behalf. Meanwhile, Gooi said the presentation of incentives this year involved 12 categories of major state sports awards including a new category introduced for the first time, which is the Deaf Sports Excellence Award. He said the new award is dedicated to the deaf sports community in Penang and reflects the state's commitment to recognising the achievement of athletes from all walks of life despite physical disability, to instil an inclusive spirit in the development of state sports. 'This incentive is a sign of the state's appreciation for the hard work and commitment of the athletes, promoters and all state sports personnel in raising the prestige of Penang sports,' he said. He also congratulated the state contingent whose medal tally of 41 gold, 45 silver and 53 bronze medals secured fourth place overall at the 21st SUKMA in Sarawak last year, which showed a 39 per cent progress compared to the 20th SUKMA where Penang had to settle for seventh place. The gold medal winner for the chess event at the 10th Asia Pacific Deaf Games Championship (APDG) last year, Loo Pin Xie, 20, received the Deaf Sports Excellence Award. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Aaron-Wooi Yik to face home pair at Thai Open semis
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are hoping to win their second BWF title this year after winning the Badminton Asia Championships last month. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Men's doubles aces Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik cruised into the semi-finals of the Thailand Open today, but a tough battle awaits them against a home pair tomorrow. The world No 5 pair needed just 28 minutes to defeat compatriots Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King 21-12, 21-13 in the quarter-final. However, the duo, who just received the 'Sportsman of the Year' award, are expected to face stiff resistance from Thailand's fast-improving world No 16 pair Kittinupong Kedren-Dechapol Puavaranukroh in the semi-final. Kittinupong-Dechapol have been in a strong form this season, having won the Swiss Open title in March and upstaging higher-ranked players in many of their outings. Aaron-Wooi Yik will also have to contend with the vociferous home crowd in Bangkok, one of the reasons for the good performances of Thai players throughout the tournament. The Malaysian pair are hoping to end a 16-year drought in the men's doubles event at the Thailand Open, last won by Chan Peng Soon-Lim Khim Wah in 2009. A win tomorrow would also set them on course for a second title this year after winning the Badminton Asia Championships last month. The duo have never won more than one title in a single season.
Malay Mail
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Lee Zii Jia, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik among top contenders for 2024 National Sportsman Award
KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — Professional shuttler Lee Zii Jia and Asian doubles champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are among five nominees shortlisted for the national 2024 Sportsman of the Year award. The National Sports Council (NSC), in a statement today, said the other nominees for the Sportsman of the Year award are wushu exponent Wong Weng Soon, weightlifter Aniq Kasdan and silat athlete Abdul Latif Maxzakir. 'For the Sportswoman of the Year category, five athletes were shortlisted: tenpin bowler Sin Li Jane, lawn bowler Nor Farah Ain Abdullah, wushu athlete Tan Cheong Min, cyclist Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri and silat exponent Nor Farah Mazlan. 'The 2024 National Sports Awards (ASN) Selection Committee, chaired by Youth and Sports Ministry secretary-general Datuk Nagulendran Kangayatkarasu, received 148 nominations across 11 categories from national sports associations, the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and the Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC),' the statement said. According to the NSC, the shortlisted candidates were selected based on their outstanding international performances throughout 2024. In the National Paralympic Sportsman category, powerlifting ace Bonnie Bunyau Gustin leads the list, followed by para athletes Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli, Datuk Abdul Latif Romly and Eddy Bernard, and para badminton star Cheah Like Hou. The five nominees for the National Paralympic Sportswoman award are Nur Azlia Syafinaz Mohd Zais and Nur Suraiya Muhamad Zamri (para cycling), Noor Askuzaimey Mat Salim (boccia), Hasmunirah Malik (para lawn bowls) and Noor Imanina Idris (para athletics). Winners of the Sportsman, Sportswoman, and Paralympic Sportsman and Sportswoman awards will each receive a trophy, a challenge trophy, a certificate, and a cash prize of RM20,000. 'ASN will also present seven other awards, comprising National Men's and Women's Teams, National Men's and Women's Coaches, Sports Icon Award, Sports Leadership Award, and Special Award. 'Introduced in 1966, the ASN is the country's highest sporting honour, annually recognising the excellence of athletes, coaches, officials and national sports associations,' said the NSC. His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, is expected to grace the 2024 ASN ceremony scheduled for tomorrow at the Dorsett Grand Hotel, Subang Jaya. — Bernama
